Werner said market conditions have led to "difficult" customer rate negotiations.

When the company reported first-quarter results, it said market conditions could make it tough to attain year-over-year rate increases during the next few quarters.

Werner, Knight Transportation Inc. and Swift Transportation Co. all saw double-digit profit declines in the first quarter, partly because of rising driver wages.

Werner said Monday that it is focusing on cost-management initiatives. The company is moving toward a goal to reduce the average age of its truck fleet to about 1.5 years by Dec. 31, but it doesn't plan to expand its truck fleet until freight and rate markets "show meaningful improvement."

The company's shares rose 11 cents to $24.79 in after-hours trading.

Write to Josh Beckerman at josh.beckerman@wsj.com

Trucking and logistics company Werner Enterprises Inc. said a sluggish freight market and increases to driver pay would hurt its second-quarter earnings.

The company expects to report a profit of 21 cents to 25 cents a share, which includes a pretax gain of $3.4 million from the sale of real estate.

Werner said market conditions have led to "difficult" customer rate negotiations.

Werner shares, which were halted after hours, resumed trading. The stock was recently down 9% to $22.44.

When the company reported first-quarter results, it said market conditions could make it tough to attain year-over-year rate increases during the next few quarters.

Werner, Knight Transportation Inc. and Swift Transportation Co. all saw double-digit profit declines in the first quarter, partly because of rising driver wages. Knight and Swift shares also declined in after-hours trading Monday.

Werner said Monday that it is focusing on cost-management initiatives. The company is moving toward a goal to reduce the average age of its truck fleet to about 1.5 years by Dec. 31, but it doesn't plan to expand its truck fleet until freight and rate markets "show meaningful improvement."

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